Therefore, it depends on the aesthetic direction you have in mind for your thumbnail. Transparency would allow you to see the image behind the letters instead of around a solid text block. An example of this would be text over an image. The transparency of an image is only an issue if you would like to edit the image to replace or remove a background or layer an image. Simply put, JPEG does not allow for transparency, while PNG does. While we already addressed one aspect of editing that specifically affects JPEG images, there is more to consider: transparency. If you are creating your own thumbnail, you will need to edit regardless of whether the images you use are original or borrowed. It may not be a significant loss, but it is worth noting. So, what is JPEG’s downside? In order to take up less storage on your hard drive, this format compresses the image, which may cause a degradation of quality. A smaller image file also means less time to upload. We are talking about 402KB for a full-sized PNG versus 35.7KB for a full-sized JPEG. JPEG will take up far less space on your computer. Is a fraction longer upload time a reasonable sacrifice for maintaining quality? Could your device accommodate the potential storage needs? Therefore, you have to decide what serves you better. The downside of PNG is that it requires more storage space on your device, and it will take longer to upload to YouTube. The benefit of PNG is that it doesn’t compress the image when saving it, causing quality degradation. The larger formatting is due to the method of compression. It is known that PNG is the largest format of the two. While both formats can accommodate this size, there are essential elements to consider when saving and storing your thumbnail images. The recommended size for a quality YouTube thumbnail is 1280×720 or 16:9 aspect ratio. If your thumbnail requires long hours of editing that would entail you going back and forth, opening the image several times, JPEG may not be for you. JPEG is known to suffer a loss of quality each time an image is opened in a program, edited, then saved. So, if your thumbnail is an image of you amid a beautiful landscape, then JPEG will serve you well.Ī consideration when choosing a format for quality is editing. JPEG is utilized for more dimensional and detailed work, which is why it is used so much in photography. Therefore, if your thumbnail consists of a simple picture of you with bold graphics overhead, then PNG will serve you well. PNG is the go-to for flat, less dimensional images like icons, logos, graphics, and so on. Looking at what each format is typically used for can help you determine which format would be best for your thumbnail image. » MORE: Can You Use Logos in Your YouTube Thumbnails? Quality of the Thumbnail When making your decision, there are a few factors you might want to consider.ĭiving deeper into these topics will give a better understanding of why PNG might be the preferred format for YouTube thumbnails. That does not disqualify PNG from being the preferred format for photographs it’s all dependent on your needs.Īccording to YouTube guidelines, a video thumbnail can be saved and uploaded in either PNG or JPEG format, so it is at the discretion of the content creator to decide.
PNG is utilized for different kinds of web graphics. While many photographers use JPEG, digital cameras automatically save photos in this format.
Portable Graphics Format (PNG) uses a lossless method of compression for saving your images versus Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG), which uses a lossy compression method. » MORE: Can You Use Google Images for a YouTube Thumbnail? What Is the Difference Between PNG and JPEG? You’ll get the best performing layouts, formatted best for YouTube. JPEG has its own benefits that should be considered when determining which format to save your image.įor those seeking a quick solution, try out a YouTube Thumbnail Maker to customize pre-made templates. However, you can’t discount JPEG formatting just yet. Image quality is not the only factor in PNG being the preferred format for YouTube thumbnails. The decision came down to the quality of the thumbnail image, which is the viewer’s introduction to your content.Įverything has to be fresh and exciting, including your video’s thumbnail, which is your primary marketing on YouTube to your content. Content that rivals network television, other social media, and streaming platforms.Īccording to many creators, PNG is the preferred choice for YouTube thumbnails. Nowadays, a great deal of work goes into producing content for YouTube. The first platform of its kind gave ordinary people a means to be heard, seen, and known by an audience of virtual strangers, who would become virtual fans. Almost since its inception, YouTube has become a phenomenon no one could have foreseen.